Science teacher preaching creationism and branding crosses on students' arms

[Ice]

Evolution is not based on science at all. It's based on wild speculations & fabrications in the minds of men, and faith-based opinions in the correctness of those wild speculations and fabrications. Evolution is every bit as much of religion as Creationism is.

A simple and irrefutable way to demonstrate this is that evolution does not meet the requirements of the scientific method, therefore it's not science.

Teaching Creationism should be perfectly legal, or teaching evolution should be every bit as illegal.

The branding thing would be wrong if it's true. But the way evolution is 'branded' into and thereby acts as a corrupting force in innocent students' minds, and presented as fact when it's actually merely opinion, is just as wrong.

[Xiahou]

Call me crazy, but I'm guessing this story is being blown way out of proportion by our sensationalist media.

[CountArach]

Evolution is not based on science at all. It's based on wild speculations & fabrications in the minds of men, and faith-based opinions in the correctness of those wild speculations and fabrications. Evolution is every bit as much of religion as Creationism is.

A simple and irrefutable way to demonstrate this is that evolution does not meet the requirements of the scientific method, therefore it's not science.

Teaching Creationism should be perfectly legal, or teaching evolution should be every bit as illegal.

The branding thing would be wrong if it's true. But the way evolution is 'branded' into and thereby acts as a corrupting force in innocent students' minds, and presented as fact when it's actually merely opinion, is just as wrong.

Thanks Navaros you just made my day

[KukriKhan]

THIS is apparently the device used to "brand" the 8th grade science students.

Not a good idea. If my kid came home with a scar administered by a teacher, there would be immediate and substantial hell to pay.

[atheotes]

THIS is apparently the device used to "brand" the 8th grade science students.

Not a good idea. If my kid came home with a scar administered by a teacher, there would be immediate and substantial hell to pay.

I just cant understand how parents did not make it a big issue if the branding was done in december as reported in the article.

[Tribesman]

I just cant understand how parents did not make it a big issue if the branding was done in december as reported in the article.

If you follow the articles back from that link you will find that the parents launched their complaint way back in december , on the morning after the "branding" incident happened .

[Adrian II]

THIS is apparently the device used to "brand" the 8th grade science students.

Not a good idea. If my kid came home with a scar administered by a teacher, there would be immediate and substantial hell to pay.

Riiight.. And they let the guy 'teach' on after December as if nothing had happened?

[Goofball]

This is freekin' scary (from the link Kukri posted):

A team led by Michael Berkman recently polled 2,000 high school science teachers across the nation. Sixteen percent of them — about one in every six teachers — identified themselves as creationists. Moreover:
…a quarter of the teachers also reported spending at least some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design. Of these, 48 percent — about 12.5 percent of the total survey — said they taught it as a “valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species”.
There are a lot of John Freshwater’s out there. And, intentionally or not, they are doing their best to undermine the nation’s science education.

Man, am I ever glad that I, and, more important, my children, don't live in Jesusland.

[Ice]

This is freekin' scary (from the link Kukri posted):



Man, am I ever glad that I, and, more important, my children, don't live in Jesusland.

Yeah god forbid someone telling them god created the earth and humanity! This might permanently damage your children!

[Goofball]

Yeah god forbid someone telling them god created the earth and humanity! This might permanently damage your children!

Yes, it would. If it was a science teacher telling them that and telling them that Creationism is grounded by scientific fact.

Quite a transparent strawman you tried to set up there. But you'll have to to a bit better in here, my friend.

PM me before you try your next one, and I'll let you know if it has a prayer of succeeding.

[Navaros]

Creationism has every bit as much scientific fact behind it as Darwinism does.

The only scary part about those numbers is that the numbers that teach Creationism are way too low.

It is scary how children are generally brainwashed to believe in Darwinism, though.

[Goofball]

Creationism has every bit as much scientific fact behind it as Darwinism does.

You know, I've heard quite a few Christians say that before, and invariably when I ask, "Really? Please tell me about some of that proof," their answer always is one variation or another of "..........."

But don't worry, I'm sure Jesus does in fact love you.

[Redleg]

Creationism has every bit as much scientific fact behind it as Darwinism does.

The only scary part about those numbers is that the numbers that teach Creationism are way too low.

It is scary how children are generally brainwashed to believe in Darwinism, though.

We have had this discussion before, all one has to do is look how man has manipulated animals by selective breeding to bring about certain traits. Nature does this by the strong survive the weak die out.

Evolution is a proven theory by the very nature of selective breeding. Now I dont have a problem with creationism being taught as a theory in school, but I do have a problem with it being taught in a class concerning say biology - which is where evolution is normally taught in school.

So if they want to teach creationism - let it be in a religious studies class, if they want to teach science and its theories - let them teach that in science class.

Man, am I ever glad that I, and, more important, my children, don't live in Jesusland

Sorry to burst your poor little anti-religion bubble there goofy, but 16% teaching creationism doesn't equate to Jesusland either. So a poor pathic attempt at slaming the United States. Its much easier to do it on things we truely do badly, but this isn't one of them.

[Goofball]

Sorry to burst your poor little anti-religion bubble there goofy, but 16% teaching creationism doesn't equate to Jesusland either. So a poor pathic attempt at slaming the United States. Its much easier to do it on things we truely do badly, but this isn't one of them.

I would sumbit that 16% of science teachers (science teachers, for Chrissake!) teaching creationism in American schools is a huge and disturbing number. It indicates that religious dogma has infiltrated the American population to such an extent that it truly is starting to shape many aspects of American life. Don't believe me? When was the last time you guys elected a president who didn't make a big show of what a good friend of Jesus he was?

But I thank you for saying I am anti-religion rather than anti-Christian. I am an equal opportunity anti-religionist. Many in here haven't figured that out yet.

[Xiahou]

It indicates that religious dogma has infiltrated the American population to such an extent that it truly is starting to shape many aspects of American life

That's where you continue to miss the point. The US has a long history of religion in the public life. It used to be much more prominent- I can still find old public school buildings that were built with bible passages engraved into their walls. If someone tried to do that while building a new school today it would be a nationwide scandal. If anything, religion is far less important in public life than it has been in the past.

It's certainly not the nefarious influence "infiltrating" it's way into American culture that you make it out to be.

[Goofball]

That's where you continue to miss the point. The US has a long history of religion in the public life. It used to be much more prominent- I can still find old public school buildings that were built with bible passages engraved into their walls. If someone tried to do that while building a new school today it would be a nationwide scandal. If anything, religion is far less important in public life than it has been in the past.

It's certainly not the nefarious influence "infiltrating" it's way into American culture that you make it out to be.

I realize that the U.S. has a long history of religion in public life. And I acknowledge that the influence of religion on your society is certainly less than it was in, say, 1700.

But the influence of the evangelicals and their efforts to insert their dogma into your political and educational systems have been experiencing a resurgence of both strength and support of late.

And it certainly is nefarious.

A science teacher secretly (implying he knows damn well he shouldn't be doing it) teaching creation in a public school science class?

Yep. Nefarious.

[Redleg]

I would sumbit that 16% of science teachers (science teachers, for Chrissake!) teaching creationism in American schools is a huge and disturbing number. It indicates that religious dogma has infiltrated the American population to such an extent that it truly is starting to shape many aspects of American life. Don't believe me? When was the last time you guys elected a president who didn't make a big show of what a good friend of Jesus he was?

Oh I find some of the things taught in school far more distrubing then this bit, for instance lots of factual history is skipped over for political reasons. But what I find most distrubing is the attempts to teach that the government can fix all of your personal issues.. They indicates that leftist dogma has infiltrated the american population to such an extent that its truly starting to shape many aspects of American Life. (I know plagerism).....

Oh Clinton comes to mind, so does Ronald Reagan. They both demonstrated that they believed in God, but not to the point of making a big show of it. I find your anti-religionist stance more of an over-reaction then anything else.

But I thank you for saying I am anti-religion rather than anti-Christian. I am an equal opportunity anti-religionist. Many in here haven't figured that out yet.

No problem - religion is often misused by politicians, teachers, and many others. 16% of science teachers in high school teaching creationism doesn't overly concern me. Now if it was done at the University level by acredited professors and individuals with Science Doctoricts(SP) I would be more concerned. High School and below teach the political mumble jumble of facts that I find amusing and sad at the same time. Its a good thing I tell my son to read history books outside of the classroom to get more details about the events ---- to determine what his own opinion is.

Just like I tell him concerning Creationism and Evolutionism - pointing out the facts that Darwin used to determine Natural Selection comes from the selective breeding programs that man has used for several thousand years.

[Geoffrey S]

No problem - religion is often misused by politicians, teachers, and many others. 16% of science teachers in high school teaching creationism doesn't overly concern me. Now if it was done at the University level by acredited professors and individuals with Science Doctoricts(SP) I would be more concerned. High School and below teach the political mumble jumble of facts that I find amusing and sad at the same time. Its a good thing I tell my son to read history books outside of the classroom to get more details about the events ---- to determine what his own opinion is.

And it was quite a shock to find out how outdated the organic chemistry taught at school really was after reading some textbooks of a flatmate. I do wonder how much of the miseducation is caused may intent, and how much by true ignorance and oldfashioned frames of mind.